The Wedding, Honeymoon & Romantic Getaway Guide to ‘Eua

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How to Get to ‘Eua

‘Eua is connected to the rest of Tonga and the world via ferries and flights from Tongatapu. While ferries offer a cheap way to get to the island, flights offer a more intimate and scenic experience worth immersing in for a special occasion. As for getting around, there is no public transport on the island, but accommodation providers fill up the gap by offering transport to guests. Car rentals are also available.

There are several flights a day (except Sunday) between ‘Eua and Tongatapu in small planes for an intimate experience. The flight might only last seven to 10 minutes, but the landing is incredibly scenic and pilots often keep an eye out for whales (during the season) to give you an alternative whale-watching perspective – a romantic way to arrive in ‘Eua! Find out more about flights in our guide, Domestic Flights in Tonga: Your Guide to Interisland Flights.

Also with a frequent schedule, ferry transport between Tongatapu and ‘Eua offers a much cheaper alternative to get between the islands. Ferries depart every day except Sunday from Taufa’ahau Tupou IV Domestic Wharf in Nuku’alofa and take approximately two hours to reach ‘Eua. Learn more about how to take the ferry in The Guide to Travelling in Tonga by Ferry.

How to Get Around ‘Eua

With no public transport on the island, accommodations provide their own transport services. Accommodations will transport you to and from the airport/wharf, while many will also offer island tours for sightseeing. Check out some of the land tours available in The Best Guided Tours in ‘Eua.

A limited few grocery stores on ‘Eua, as well as the odd accommodation, offer car rental services that are ideal for getting between villages. Due to the very rough road conditions to ‘Eua’s natural attractions, especially in the ‘Eua National Park, we recommend taking an island tour over a rental car to these attractions. For more information on rental cars, as well as other forms of transport, see the 5 Ways to Get to (& Around) ‘Eua.

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Romantic Getaway and Honeymoon Activities in ‘Eua

Some of the highlights of ‘Eua Island just happen to be utterly romantic, from swimming with majestic humpback whales to exploring the lush forests of the ‘Eua National Park. While we list all our honeymoon activity ideas in the 10 Romantic Things to Do on ‘Eua, here’s just a taste of what you could get up to on your romantic getaway…

Romantic Walks in ‘Eua

Tackling a hike together can be a rewarding experience, and there’s no lack of hikes on the island of ‘Eua. While there are some fantastic guided hikes available, there are some hikes that be done independently to enjoy some alone time.

The southern Lakufa’anga Cliff Hike with the Rock Gardens, Li’angahuo ‘a Maui archway and the breathtaking Ha’aluma Beach is a fantastic walk. Alternatively, the Forest Plantation Hike takes hikers through incredible tracts of forest to giant banyan trees and lookouts over the ‘Eua National Park. Learn more about the walks available in the 5 Best Hikes in ‘Eua.

Bird Watching

Being the love birds that you are, it’s only fitting to do some bird watching in ‘Eua. All jokes aside, the birdlife on the island is incredible with the star of the show being the red shining parrot or the “koki”. Look out for koki in the forests of the island, especially in the ‘Eua National Park and in the south of the island, as well as birds like the Pacific pigeon, swiftlets and noddies. There are also plenty of seabirds mostly seen around the Lakufa’anga Cliffs area, such as brown booby, white terns, white-tailed birds and frigate birds.

‘Eua’s Beaches

‘Eua is blessed with some glorious beaches, which most of the time, are completely empty. It might sound cliché, but ‘Eua is perfect for “long walks on the beach” where it’s even likely to see whales on the horizon between July and October. The beaches are backed by lush vegetation and fringed by tidal pools, some even big enough to snorkel in like a human-sized aquarium!

Check out Ha’aluma Beach on the south coast for its long white sandy beach and ancient Tongan stone cuts. Tufuvai Beach is also quite picturesque and easily accessible from Blue Water Retreat. ‘Ufilei Beach is just north of Ohonua and is a better beach for swimming. Otherwise, guided hikes to Fangatave Beach and Lokupo Beach on the east side of the island are amazing rewards after trekking through caves and the rainforest. Learn more about these beaches and their locations in the 5 Best Beaches on ‘Eua.

Swimming with Whales

Tonga is one of the very few places in the world where you can swim with whales in their natural environment. Between July and October, humpback whales frequent the waters surrounding ‘Eua to breed and calve, giving travellers on ‘Eua the unique opportunity to see whales in their element. Snorkel with these gentle giants on one of the small-boat tours mentioned in The Best Whale Tours in ‘Eua.

More Things to Do on ‘Eua

And that’s just the tip of the coconut of what ‘Eua has to offer. Check out sights like dramatic caves, cultural experiences and more in the 20 Best Things to Do in ‘Eua.

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Dining on ‘Eua

‘Eua isn’t exactly brimming with dining options, but couples will find the small selection of eateries between self-catering pleasant enough. Note that some accommodations have dining options too, whether it’s a buffet dinner each night or meals made to order with advance notice, so be sure to inquire and let them know your dietary requirements in advance.

Restaurants on ‘Eua

‘Eua is home to an incredibly small selection of eateries. Talei’s Restaurant (north end of Pangai), formerly Fane’s Restaurant, serves all your comfort classics, from ika kelevi (fish in sauce) to fish/sausage/chicken and chips/manioke, and all for a very very affordable price. Enjoy it all in the pleasant undercover seating area or order to takeaway. Available Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.

Place your order before 1 pm and the team at ‘Alakoka Tahi Moana Guest House (Kiko’s) (Pangai) can spruce up grilled fish, chicken curry, fish and chips of a vegetarian ensemble at their on-site restaurant for guests and non-guests alike. Available Monday to Saturday.

Self-Catering on ‘Eua

Combine the facilities of one of the 5 Best Self-Catering Accommodations on ‘Eua with the food supplies available at one of the many grocery stores across Pangai or fale koloa (smaller convenience stores) elsewhere and enjoy the privacy and affordability of self-catering on ‘Eua. Learn more about food shopping in Information, Shops & Services in ‘Eua and The Guide to Food Shopping in Tonga.

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Weddings on ‘Eua

Getting married on an isolated South Pacific island is a dream for many. While ‘Eua Island would make an incredible location for a tropical wedding, the services and infrastructure are just not there… yet!

The main reason for the lack of development for wedding services is the fact that overseas residents getting married in Tonga have to jump through a few hurdles, such as residing in the country for a month before even applying for a wedding license. You can read all about the logistics in How to Organise Your Wedding in Tonga.

Nevertheless, this could all be changing soon with a legal act currently in progress within the Tongan Government that will make getting married in Tonga easier for eloping couples. Watch this space!